Houtarou Oreki Classroom of the Elite

Kikyō looked at Houtarou and Suzune.

"Oreki-kun—"

She employed her charm. Gently, she cupped Houtarou's left hand, still drowsy-looking, with both of hers and drew it towards her. His palm was now cradled by her soft, delicate hands. She gazed up at him with an expectant, longing look.

Given Kikyō's inherent angelic cuteness, this gesture carried extra weight, stirring something deep within him.

Thump Thump—

Beside them, Suzune remained oblivious, engrossed in her vocabulary book. Houtarou was acutely aware of his racing heart.

This, he mused, was why girls were such troublesome creatures — they wielded their charms with expert precision.

"Actually, Horikita-san is correct." Houtarou said, struggling to avert his gaze, "My goal is indeed to secure the points from the initial group of investors. With Nagumo-senpai opposing us, opening a store would face significant hurdles. It requires experience, staff, and other resources. So, I'm leaning towards abandoning the store idea and reclaiming the invested points."

At the mention of Miyabi, whom she disliked, Kikyō's expression tightened slightly. Yet, she persisted in maintaining her cute, yearning facade.

She had already discerned that Houtarou, despite his good looks, was inexperienced with girls.

"So, was I deceived?" Kikyō asked, her voice tinged with feigned hurt.

"It's not entirely deception." He replied.

"Oh."

She realized she had been used, but refrained from losing her temper.

Houtarou continued, "In this school, ability is paramount. Points function as currency and can purchase various items, making them crucial. Currently, 15 students from Class B and 36 from Class C are participating. I've already accumulated 2.55 million points."

"By the start of next month, when students from Class B and C fully grasp the school's rules, those ambitious to climb the ranks will likely terminate the agreement that deducts substantial points from their class monthly. Each person will then pay an additional 10,000 points as compensation. This will bring my total points to 3.06 million."

"Therefore, Kushida-san, your 5% share amounts to 153,000 points." He concluded with a slight smile.

Hearing this, Kikyō realized she could receive a substantial reward.

Over a week had passed since school began. Although everyone now understood the rules, knowledge alone wasn't enough — students still struggled with self-control. Consequently, Points continued to be deducted daily.

Kikyō wasn't optimistic about how much of the 1,000 Class Points, to be given by the school next month, could be saved. She anticipated a future of financial hardship for their class.

Therefore, securing some Points now as a safety net seemed prudent.

However…

"If this was the plan all along, it's essentially profiting from everyone's points." Kikyō said, her tone turning pitiful, "Why involve me? After introducing everyone, it's ended up like this. Won't I become disliked?"

"Horikita-san and I struggle with social interactions." Houtarou explained, "You, Kushida-san, are very personable. Everyone trusts you."

Kikyō realized Suzune had indeed used her deliberately. She had thought her "friend" had changed, but it turned out she was merely being used.

For the first time, Kikyō felt a twinge of doubt about life. She hadn't even truly befriended Suzune yet, but was already being exploited. If a real friendship were to develop, what price would she have to pay?

She sensed this might not bode well.

"You don't need to take the blame." Houtarou assured her, noticing her expression, "We can use Nagumo's demand for an additional 5 million points for store opening permission to placate everyone. It's not that we don't want to open the store — Nagumo has created obstacles for us."

"Moreover, if students from Classes B and C choose to quit by next month, that's their decision and responsibility. If the store doesn't open, it's not our fault, nor yours. In fact, those who participated might feel disappointed they couldn't see the project through. They certainly won't blame you."

Hearing this, Kikyō felt somewhat relieved. She had been considering shifting any blame onto Miyabi if she ended up being used as a scapegoat.

Now, it seemed she could walk away relatively unscathed. She decided to accept the Points.

Thus, she confidently verified the the amount Houtarou transferred to her.

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